The Hamilton Spectator
Graham Rockingham

(Apr 15, 2010)

 

Need to know

 

What: Mary Simon Band, CD Release Party for No More Maybes

 

When: Tonight. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

 

Where: This Ain't Hollywood, 345 James St. North, 905-529-9500

 

Tickets: $12 at the door, $10 in advance at marysimon.com

 

Mary Simon lived in Toronto just long enough to discover how much she appreciated Hamilton.

 

A few years ago, the singer-songwriter moved to Toronto in pursuit of work. She found a good job, working as a sponsorship coordinator for Canadian Music Week and setting up songwriters' workshops for the festival.

 

Still, she was missing something. Simon found it in Hamilton.

 

"I've been in Hamilton for the last two years," says Simon, who now commutes to her job in Toronto. "I love it. I'm so done with Toronto."

 

Simon was no stranger to Hamilton when she decided to commit to it. She was raised in Burlington and was a regular on the local circuit, recording four CDs of well-crafted songs. More recently, however, her appearances have been limited. Occasionally, a new Simon composition would crop up on a compilation like Design Hope. The quality of her music always stood out.

 

Simon was drawn to the Tuesday night songwriters' showcases at the West Town on Locke Street and This Ain't Hollywood on James Street North. She felt at home.

 

"There's an amazing art community in Hamilton and amazing musicians," Simon says. "Toronto is so competitive and you're either in the in-crowd or you're not. Maybe because it's a blue-collar town, everyone in Hamilton is so much more down to earth."

 

Although she started work on her new CD in Toronto, the project came to fruition in Hamilton with the help of top-flight guitarists Andrew Aldridge, David Gillis and Rob Lamothe, as well as Lisa Winn and Shelley Adams on backing vocals.

 

The result is a new sound for Simon.

 

Her voice takes command -- No Maybes, as the title suggests -- and her songwriting craft shines with a maturity that places her above many better-known singers.

 

Aldridge's gritty guitar, in particular, provides a sharper edge, a la Ryan Adams or Lucinda Williams.

 

It's a contrast to previous Simon albums, which have been more acoustic, more melancholy.

 

"Enough with being sad," Simon declares. "It's time to go out and have some fun. It's great going out to see shows in Hamilton and how everyone gets into it ... I want people to have fun at my concerts. I can nail a ballad for sure, but I want to have more fun."

Mary Simon
by Shain Shapiro
April 15 - 21, 2010
It has been over six years since local songstress Mary Simon released her previous album, so her CD release party this week at This Ain’t Hollywood is surely cause for celebration. Not to be mistaken with the Nunavut political leader she shares her name with, Simon is yet another clever, roots–influenced songwriter to emerge from Hamilton in the past decade. But now, as Simon approaches album number five, a new outlook is taking hold, one that takes its influence from the title of this new collection, No More Maybes. Instead of approaching her craft with a softer, more pop–driven approach, Simon has plugged in, turned on and produced an album more in the vein of Uncle Tupelo and Lucinda Williams than Natalie Merchant or Ingrid Michaelson. But this change did not happen overnight, as it took Simon three full years and four studios to complete the record, one that the songwriter admits was half due to funds and half to creative movement.  “This album was recorded over a three year period working with various people in various studios,” explains Simon.  “My intention was not to work with so many different people, but in my effort to find the right sound it required that. Each person involved brought huge value to the project, regardless if their contribution made the final take. In the end, I recorded in four different studios including Catherine North and Grant Avenue and I came out with a very cohesive and gritty roots rock sound.” While nothing in particular drives the album, this is the loudest and most fierce Simon has ever sounded. “I wouldn’t say there are any particular themes in total on the record, however there is a much edgier sound and a new attitude that sets this album apart from my previous recordings,” continues the songwriter. “This definitely came from being bored with playing live shows that did not have enough energy behind them and realizing that I needed to focus on writing more upbeat songs. And yet there is still a dark element that I find beautiful.”

   But most of all, this album comes as a relief for Simon, something she plans on celebrating in its highest regard this week on stage. It usually does not take a songwriter six years in between albums, but with Simon that time was required to be able to produce a collection as succinct as No More Maybes. And now, as a result, there is no excuse. “There were many reasons why it took so long,” continues Simon. “There was definitely a combination of them, including money, personal challenges and second guessing what I wanted the end product to sound like. Plus, I’m not a very disciplined songwriter. I write when I feel inspired and when I have a good first line including melody and lyrics, I keep going. So I have to say that I’m relieved the album is finished and more sure of my sound then I ever have been. That is why I titled the album as such. The title of the album. That phrase does a good job of summing up the attitude I took with making it.”

   As usual, Simon has elected to release the album independently, eschewing the typical label aesthetic for a more down to earth and hands on approach. This was what she did whilst recording, and this is what she is doing for the release. “As an independent musician funding the project in every manner myself, the album took much longer to record then I anticipated. I’m sure many independent musicians can relate to not being able to execute a recording project in a timely manner using all the resources they desire due to lack of funds. But it’s done, and the independent nature has prevailed.”

   Simon will be hitting James Street North for a date at This Ain’t Hollywood this week. The new CD is available through marysimon.com.

MARY SIMON
(CD Release Party)
Thursday April 15 @ This Ain’t Hollywood. 
345 James St. N. Hamilton.
marysimon.com